And are those glorious stars unpeopled all?
Lives there no thought outside our human race?
Men scan the heavens — does no celestial face
Turn wondering to our planetary ball?
Who knows if yet to science it may fall
To find a bridge o’er interstellar space,
That we those lords of other worlds may trace,
And message send responsive to their call?

O world incredulous! Accept the word
By Christ revealed: Beyond the farthest star,
In highest heaven, most loving friends there are,
By our repentant sighs their joy is stirr’d;
We strike our breasts, the echo wakes their praise;
And they have charge to hallow all our ways.